Book Festival

We went to a book festival at the University of Utah last weekend.  I had never been to that campus, but it was very pretty nestled right up against the mountains next to Salt Lake City.  I was also interested because in some of my geneology work lately, I'd been reading that my Grandma Pierce went there for college in the early 1900's and worked at the library circulation desk and also was in a sorority there.  

It was fun to see the kids gather all the free things that were given out.  Miles was fixated on the McDonalds sign and wanted a picture by it and Haleigh, who is usually scared of "mascots" or things that dress up, was actually excited that Curious George made an appearance and wanted to take lots of pictures with him.  It was a free event and very fun.  

My Birthday Today

For my birthday on Facebook, instead of many well wishers, I asked for people to share a memory they had with me which is today.  So far it's been very fun.  Any blogging friends, please share one too!

Here are some comments:

Ryleigh Jensen HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Haha birthday memory... the "court room" we set up in 5th grade that made me want to be an attorney. :)

Diane Gurule Theobald Happy Happy Birthday Michelle!!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!!

Libby Micela Happy Birthday! You were always so helpful my first year of teaching!

Linda Slack I remember working with you at Evans Elementary School. You were so young and excited, ready to solve every students problem.


Tammy Adams I remember when I came to what was suppose to be a random meeting and you where all ready to give me a pedicure!It was a Great Boost for me at that time in my life! You are such a generous and loving person! Have a Great Birthday! We Miss you guys!


Emily Call I remember our never ending trips down to Payson to student teach. We always had fun. :)


Amy Sunderson Palmer Going to my first General Conference:).

Kimberly Sanford Sheldon

Subject: Happy Birthday...

I tried to post this on your wall, but it was too long...lol...Oh my goodness...so many happy memories I don't even know which one to choose:) I think I will start with the one when we were driving home from Bellows and we started talking about our eyes or something...then for some reason we were both looking at each other and realized at the same time neither of us was looking at the road:) LOL I remember laughing so hard even when we did look back at the road it was hard to see through the tears of laughter:) good times...I remember watching Murder, She Wrote:) that is still one of my favs! I do recall being kidnapped by several members of the Pierce family on my birthday one year...that was definitely an exciting adventure! And I certainly can't ever forget grad night! Remember that lady we saw in the pool? Lord only knows what she was doing:) LOL I will absolutely never forget how wonderful you and your family were for putting up with me during the days before graduation while my family was preparing for our move back to the states...I can't ever thank you enough for being so generous. Such warm hearts and giving souls. I wish for you the best birthday ever Michelle! You deserve it! Lots of love! xoxo Kimmie

Maddy Faler Winward Well, so many good memories. On of my favorite was a lunch run to Cafe Rio or Taco Bell. We were eating chips and you bit into one and broke it in half. We have heartedly look around for the part that when flying, but didn't see it. You called me later that evening and said you had found the missing chip! It fell out of your shirt when you got ready for bed. Hehe!

Mary Jenkins Happy birthday dear cousin! A memory I have with you is when you came with a friend and stayed at our house and went to Disneyland. I was really little, so I don't remember much except how fun it was to have a cousin come visit! I hope you have a great day!

Kristina Rich There are too many happy memories to share. I've been trying to think of one specific and I can't. But here are some of my favorites...all of the play groups and chatting about husbands and kids. All of the birthday parties and swim dates. All of the times you reminded me that I was supposed to do something, which by the way, was often. Imagine how I am now that you are gone!!! I'm lost! The books clubs, the book fairs, the zoo trips and my favorite....the lunch dates. I MISS YOU!! Have a great birthday!

Wendy Cunningham Happy, Happy Birthday!! Loved being your VT companion!! Miss you guys!!

Jennifer Starkey Happy Birthday Michelle! Have a wonderful day!

Joseph Costello Happy 29th Birthday Michelle!!!!! :D

Megan Mulliner Ryan Happy Birthday Michelle. I hope you are enjoying UT.

Tawna Fewkes Petersen Happy Birthday, Michelle! I remember when you moved into Highland Ward, I loved your voice and hoped you would be put in as a RS teacher; you were! It was great having you as my VT for a while and I loved the pedicure! :) Enjoy your day!

Amanda Giles 

Let's see: Dramatic photo shoots, making club subs with extra lettuce, the dare game chipmunk incident, toilet paper puh-LEASE, staying in St.George, walking all the way to Baskin Robbins to 'earn' our ice cream, seeing The Secret Garden musical, you buying me 'grown-up ice cream' for my 21st, horse-back riding in Colorado, visiting your darling g-parents in Salem, making dinner, watching A&E Pride and Prejudice for the 1st time, doing our nails (and even playing bingo) during church, seeing you in July with your beautiful kiddos.

Nah, those are all good, but the thing about you that comes to me again and again is singing Leaving on a Jet Plane together. I can still hear your voice in my head when I teach this ones to my students!

Sarah Miland Olive Happy Birthday Michelle! Have a great day!

Katrina Adams Boehme We share a birthday! Have a fantastic day! Jaiden really misses Carter at school, hope all is well. 

Joy Penaskovic Happy Birthday, Michelle!!

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  Kari German Schneider I remember the first class I had with you...you were pregnant and you decided you weren't going to find out what you were having. We put together an amazing basket for you...with a little duckie theme! :-) I loved every class I took with you...learned so much and really enjoyed you as a person. I'm so glad I got you as a professor because I decided I wanted to be your friend, too!!! :-) Happy Birthday!!!
  

  16 hours ago ·  · 
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  Monica Cooper Happy Birthday Michelle!
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  Misty Theobald I remember you doing mine and manda's hair for all the cousin's weddings! And I also remember that glamour shot you had done (probably like at 16 or so), and me and manda thought you were the most beautiful girl. We couldn't wait to have glamour shots taken of us.
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  Michelle Flory
  

  Ok, this Michelle's husband....remember when we were dating and we used to go to the park after work. We would order a pizza and eat under the stars...then one night the sprinklers turned on us unexpectedly and we got soaked.
  
  I love you - 

  Happy bday!
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  Amanda Theobald I remember we helped paint your BYU apartment and I was like..."cool, college life." And I remember when you babysat us once and made us taco soup. Delicious, our dad still makes that all the time, and it still reminds me of you.

Days at the Gym

Phone pictures just aren't the same, but here are a few pics of the kids doing some of their summer activities.  While Haleigh was in her gymnastics class, the boys would practice basketball next door.  There is a track above the gym that can look down on all these rooms, where I would go walking with Louis.  Haleigh loves her girl-y class!